The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-02-26
Our Olio.
THE GREAT NORTHWEST.

A correspondent at Portland, Oregon
writes To see at its best what is know
as the "Great Northwest" one SHOULD
visit it in the latter part of May or in tn
month of June Then the sunshine i
warm enough to be pleasant, the landscap
is fresh and green, and the atmosphere i
delightfully."- clear and bracing. The late
months are apt to be warmer, and in tn
absence of much n constant strean
of sunshine dries q earth and makes NOR,
or less dust. The Northwest does no
know such weather as the East calls sultry
and oppressive The suns rays are pene
trating, but the air is always good, and il
is invariably cool in the shade.
Minnesota is the beginning of the North
west and St. Paul and Minneapolis are it
gates. Winter there is long and cold, anG
May is well advanced before Spring show;
itself in real earnest; its appearance trans
forms an icy, cherries landscape into one
of much beauty. Green fields and rolling
prairie blend tremendously, and groves o.
small oaks wave their new-grown fossy
leaves in the bracing atmosphere. Many
little lakes are dotted upon the surface OF
the country. Fresh breezes ruff1e theil
waters, and make tiny wavelets, which
dance and sparkle in the sunlight.
Dakota's atmosphere resembles that Of
Minnesota, but its landscape is quite diff
ferent. Trees are scarce and prairie
abounds. There are long stretches of leve
country, and again the land rises and fall:
in graceful undulations like the waves Of
the ocean. One who has been at sea will
have recalled the picture of the waste Of
waters fringed on the horizon round about
with the waves ever arising and rolling one
upon another The pillows in the distance
seem always higher then those next the
speeding ship. Early summer shows Da.
kota's prairie green for miles with newly
-r.udteu wheat. The cuttina& the go>lden
grain comes later on. Miles, of yelloS-
boards then wave in the breezes, and the
smoke from the many thrashing engines
rises against the sky and floats off languid-
ly like that of far-away steamer at sea.
The western portion of Dakota is a bunch
grass country. Bunch grass becomes
quite green in the Spring, but it is
never as fresh and decided in color
as grass of Eastern fields and pastures.
What is green in Dakota in Spring and
early Summer assumes various hues of vel
low and brown latter on. The hot midsum-
mer sun eats the coloring matter from the
grasses and cures them as they grow
Nothing makes beautiful country like
green grass. Without it the eye grows
tired of any landscape, But there is much
beauty in the many shades of brown and
yellow of the prairies and hillsides At
dusk, they have an indescribably rich and
velvety appearance. Every possible shade
in the changes from brown to yellow can
be seen in the softness of deepening twi-
light Cattle like the green things of
Spring, but they fatten on the bunch grass,
and exist on it cured in the Summer and
Winter. Dakota grows warm at times in
the sun, but the mercury there at 110o
does not mean the discomfort of muggy
day in an Eastern city, with the mercury
at $50. The dryness of the atmosphere
which sends the mercury up in the North
west also protects the people from feeling
the heat
Eastern Montana is grazing country.
1t is largely prairie, and north of the Vel
lowstone River are large herds of cattle.
To the South of this river for several hun
bred miles is the reservation of the Crow
Indians. Trees are most refreshing sight
to a dweller on the prairie. Except on
river banks he does not see them. Trees
line the banks of every river, and, rising
above the level of the surrounding country,
one can bythem trace the course ofany stream
for many miles The month of June sees
volume of water in the Yellowstone River
scattering spots of snow on the mountains
of the Belt range, and the river and streams
of the National Park are full of life and
energy. 1t also shows the country west OF
the Rocky Mountains in its choicest season
The Rocky mountains do not presenta high
ridge of snow-capped peaks running north
and south across the face of the country
The range is very broken, and in Montana
consists of ridges cummings at all angles with
no very high peaks. Some two or three
show snow on their SUBMITS the year round,
but none are snow-capped in the sense that
the peaks of the Cascade range are. One
does not pass over the main ridge at high
altitude; the journey through these noun
tains is a series of windings over numerous
ridges, through various tunnels, and around
sharp curves. 1t is also a ride through
valleys, some of which are green with veg.
citation. Many low peaks and intervening
valleys spread over miles of country de
scribe the chain which constitutes the back
bone of our continent.
But the chief reason why the trip should
be made in early Summer is that Oregon
Washington Territory, and the country
about Puget Sound then show to best ad
vantage. During the whole season, anc
until late in December, the Northwes
coast is most beautiful, and has many very
clear days, but in late May and June I
clear sky is more to be depended upon
Not to see the snow-capped peaks makes
any trip to Oregon unsatisfactory.
Clouds and bad weather do not interior
with the tourist to any extent during tn
whole Summer. After the rainy season
Winter the sky becomes clear and SUNSHINE
pours down beautifully. Smoke IS th'
enemy of the tourist. 1t does not conn
every year, nor does it always last long
but when the season for its presence come
one cannot tell how long time will elaps
before the atmosphere can clear itself
Rain or a good stiff breeze from the prop
er point will dissipate it, but rain cannot b
depended upon in Summer, and the breez
does not always blow from the right quart
er. This smoke comes from yanou
sources. Each year new land is opene'
for cultivation. The brush cleared ava
and the stumps dug from the ground ar
burned. This burning for legitimate pun
poses makes some smoke, but proper car
! is not taken to extinguish the fires, an